I recently installed a K&N air filter in my E320. I just read that this can ruin the "mass airflow sensor". Does anyone know anything about this?

 

If it was a panel filter, or the kind that fits into the original air box, you shouldn't have a problem.
Apparently problems can arise with a cone type filter when the distentence from the filter to the MAf has been shortened. Since K&N uses a cotton gause filter material, saturated with a light oil, the concern is that the oil will weep onto the MAF and coat the sensor. This, of course will render the MAF ineffective.

BTW, I had a K&N filter in my W202 but found my fuel mileage was a couple of mpg lower. Switched back to oem paper and am back up.
Good luck.

 

get rid of that filter..stick to MERCEDES-BENZ AIR FILTER.

 

You will have MAS problem ONLY if you put excessive oil when cleaning your K&N.

 

K1MOTORSPORT is correct never over oil these filters, I had a K&N filter in my 99 C280 for 4 years and no problems with the MAS. I bought a CAI for the car this year, an change the cone filter that came with it to a K&N filter, It has been in since March and no problems with the MAS. All the cars in the family including my latest purchase a 79 450SLC have K&N filters and none have had a problem. I clean them once a year, except my daugthers 3 times a year, as she is an equestrian and drives to the barn and horse shows and a lot of the lead in roads are very dusty. But other then that, I am a BIG believer in these filters. Mercedes DTM cars use nothing but K&N filters on the DTM circuit in the fatherland.

Incidently, my CAI has a longer intake tube, aluminium instead of plastic that attaches to the MAS and behind that I replaced that accordian piece with a flexible plastic intake pipe with no accordian ribs and the increase in performance, over 3K RPM is very satisfying to me as well as the throatly noise after the tach hits 4K rpm or so. People say it is the noise and there is no really HP gain. I disagree. I gained 10 HP when I had the car on a dyno which I payed $50 for two runs, by the owner of the shop. It was a warm day and the shope was 90 degrees , the owner had two huge fans blowing to cool off the air a bit. He hung bags of ice in front of the fans. haven't seen that done since I was a kid growing up in NYC.

So taking the climate that day, I would not hesitate to say I probably gained closeer to 15HP.

 

Hi - I found your post on the forum, I am trying to change my air fileter on my e320 (2003) and I cannot find it in the engine bay. Can you tell me where it is, or give me a hint? I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

Robert
Jacksonville, Florida

 

You need to remove engine cover first to access the air filters.